Seat Cushion

ABSTRACT

A seat cushion includes a hard baseboard, a gel, a foam and an enclosure portion. The hard baseboard has an upper surface. A convex portion is formed on the front part near the central part of the upper surface. A concave portion is formed on each side of the convex portion. An upwardly extending portion is formed on each of the two corners of the rear part of the upper surface, and an indent part of the rear part of the hard baseboard is formed between the two upwardly extending portions, so that the hard baseboard mimics the shape of a user&#39;s hip and thighs in sitting position. The gel and the foam may be disposed in various configurations on the baseboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to a seat cushion. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved seat cushion with a baseboard that mimics the shapes of a user's thighs and bottom and in which gel is used for buffering the sudden downward force exerted by our body as we sit down on the cushion.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the prior art, the seat cushion is formed by foam enclosed by an enclosure portion. Therefore, the cushion can buffer the downward force exerted by a user's body as the user sits down on the cushion.

However, the seat cushion of the prior art has the following drawbacks:

1. Because such foam has a flat surface, the cushion cannot make a user sit correctly on it and hence backache may occur after a long period of use.

2. If foam is too hard, it has a limited buffering effect and a user can be injured when the user abruptly sits down on the cushion. In addition, discomfort usually occurs after the user sits on the cushion for a period of time.

3. If foam is too soft, the user's hip will easily sink into it. Though it has a good buffering effect, the user's range of motion may be limited by the cushion.

4. Foam becomes less flexible after a long period of use. Therefore, the cushion of the prior art cannot provide enough support and discomfort would occur (a user's hip may sink deeply into the cushion as he sits down on the foam cushion).

Please refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,980 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,790 as examples of the prior art of seat cushions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,980 discloses a molded cushion comprised of stretchable bag containing pellets held in place relative to each other and bag by flexible polymerized adhesive. The bag is constructed such that it will form cushion of the desired dimensions when filled with pellets and adhesive. The cushion also comprises a baseboard, which adds structure and support to cushion, and provides a substrate to which various types of hardware can be attached.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,790 discloses a customized seat cushion comprising securable, removable supports which are used in combination with a shaped tray and a pad containing a fluid foam. The supports must be shaped to cooperate with and augment the contours of the tray while providing a smooth and comfortable seating surface.

From the above, the cushion of the prior art has many disadvantages and needs to be improved.

To eliminate the disadvantages in the prior art, the inventor has put a lot of effort into the subject and has successfully come up with the improved seat cushion of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved seat cushion with a baseboard that mimics the shape of a user's bottom and thighs in sitting position to enable the user to sit correctly on the cushion. Hence the pressure on the pelvis is reduced.

The present invention also provides an improved seat cushion in which gel is used to effectively buffer the sudden downward force exerted by a user's body as the user sits down on the cushion. Therefore, injuries to the user's body may be avoided and the user can feel quite comfortable when the user sits on the cushion.

The improved seat cushion of the present invention comprises a baseboard, gel, foam and an enclosure portion. The baseboard is a hard board and has an upper surface. A convex portion is formed on the front part near the central part of the upper surface. A concave portion is formed on either side of the convex portion. An upwardly extending portion is formed in the rear part of the baseboard. Therefore, the baseboard mimics the shapes of a user's hip and thighs in sitting position. The gel and foam are provided on the baseboard. The layer of the gel and the layer of the foam may be arranged in various configurations (side-by-side configuration, overlapping configuration, etc.). Last, the baseboard provided with the gel and foam is enclosed in the enclosure portion. When a user sits on the cushion of the present invention, the user's thighs are on the concave portions and the user's bottom is on the rear portion of the baseboard. Therefore, the user can sit correctly on the cushion. In addition, the gel and foam can effectively buffer the sudden downward force exerted by the user's body as the user sits down on the cushion. Therefore, bodily injuries to the user's body may be avoided. Moreover, the user can feel quite comfortable when the user sits on the cushion due to the support provided by the gel, foam and baseboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are two perspective views showing the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are two perspective views showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are two perspective views showing the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are two views showing the improved seat cushion of the present invention in use.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the gel of the seat cushion of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is another perspective view showing the gel of the seat cushion of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate the first embodiment of the present invention. The improved seat cushion of the present invention comprises a baseboard 1, gel 2, foam 3 and an enclosure portion 4.

The baseboard 1 is a hard board and has an upper surface 11. A convex portion 12 is formed on the front part near the central part of the upper surface 11. A concave portion 13 is formed on each of the both sides of the convex portion 12. An upwardly extending portion 14 is formed on each of the both corners of the rear part of the hard baseboard 1, and an indent part 141 of the margin of the rear part of the baseboard 1 is formed between the two upwardly extending portion 14. Therefore, the baseboard 1 mimics the shape of the hip and thighs in sitting position. The baseboard 1 is made of wood, plastic or metal. The gel 2 is disposed on the convex portion 12 and on the two concave portions 13. The gel 2 has a high degree of flexibility and a high level of buffering effect. The gel 2 may have the form of a net or a solid entity based on the actual need. The gel 2 is selected form PU gel, silica gel, polymer gel, and synthetic rubber gel. Also, the gel 2 can be replaced with soft rubber, soft synthetic thermoplastic elastomer gel (or latex), PU elastomer or other flexible material.

The foam 3 is disposed on the areas of the upper surface of the baseboard 1 that are not covered by the gel 2. The foam 3 can be replaced with artificial fibers or natural fibers.

The enclosure portion 4 can enclose the baseboard 1 provided with the gel 2 and foam 3. The enclosure portion 4 is made of woven fabric or knitted fabric.

Please see FIG. 3, which illustrates the second embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment are that, in the latter, the gel 2 is disposed only on the concave portions 13, and the convex portion 12 is not covered by the gel 2 or the foam 3.

Please see FIGS. 4A and 4B, which illustrate the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the first embodiment and the third embodiment is that, in the latter, the foam 3 is disposed on the entire area of the baseboard 1, and the gel 2 is disposed on the entire area of the foam 3 (as illustrated in FIG. 4A) or on certain areas of the foam 3 (as illustrated in FIG. 4B).

Please see FIGS. 5A and 5B, which illustrate the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that, in the latter, an additionally second layer of the foam 31 is disposed on the top of the gel 2. In the fourth embodiment, a first layer of the foam 3 is disposed on the entire area of the baseboard 1, the gel 2 is disposed on the entire area (as illustrated in FIG. 5A) or certain areas (as illustrated in FIG. 5B) of the first layer of the foam 3, and the second layer of the foam 31 is disposed on the first layer of the foam 3 and the gel 2.

Please see FIGS. 6A and 6B, which illustrate the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the fifth embodiment is that, in the latter, only the gel 2 is used and the gel 2 may be disposed on the entire area (as illustrated in FIG. 6A) or certain areas (as illustrated in FIG. 6B) of the upper surface 11 of the baseboard 1.

In any of the five embodiments described before, glue may be used to join the gel 2 and the foam 3 with the baseboard 1.

The enclosure portion 4 may have a form of two thin sheets. In manufacturing, the peripheries of the two sheets of the enclosure portion 4 are processed by high frequency waves or ultrasonic waves so that the enclosure portion 4 may enclose the gel 2, the foam 3 and the hardboard 1.

Alternatively, the enclosure portion 4 may have a form of an envelope. The enclosure portion 4 has at least an opening to enclose the gel 2, the foam 3 and the hardboard 1. A sealing device may be disposed by or along the opening and may seal the opening. The sealing device may be a zipper, a zipper-like design, buttons, loop and hook fasteners, or other sealing devices.

The enclosure portion 4 is made of leather, synthetic leather or woven fabric.

Please see FIGS. 7A and 7B, which illustrate the improved seat cushion of the present invention in use. First, a user 6 places the improved seat cushion of the present invention on the sitting portion 51 of a chair 5. As the user 6 sits on the improved seat cushion, the user's thighs 61 rest on the concave portions 13 and the user's hip 62 rests on the rear portion of the baseboard 1 and is pressed against by the upwardly extending portion 14 so that the user 6 can sit correctly on the improved seat cushion. As the user 6 sits down on the improved seat cushion, the sudden downward force and the user's body weight may be buffered by the gel 2 and the foam 3 and the gel 2 would become deformed so as to absorb the sudden downward force exerted by the user's hip 62 and to avoid injuries to the user's ischium.

Please see FIGS. 8 and 9, which illustrate other forms of the gel 2 in the embodiments described above. The upper surface of the gel 2 may have a plurality of cylinders (as shown in FIG. 8). Alternatively, both of the upper surface and the bottom surface of the gel 2 have a plurality of cylinders (as shown in FIG. 9). The plurality of cylinders on the gel 2 can enhance the buffering capacity of the gel 2 and provide effects of massage.

In comparison to the prior art, the improved seat cushion of the present invention has the following advantages:

1. In the improved seat cushion of the present invention, the baseboard mimics the shapes of a user's hip and thighs to enable the user to sit correctly on the cushion.

2. The gel may effectively buffer the sudden downward force exerted by a user's body while the user sits down on the cushion. Therefore, injuries to the user's body may be avoided and the user can feel quite comfortable when the user sits on the cushion.

3. In comparison to the flat baseboard of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,980, the baseboard of the present invention is a hard board that mimics the shapes of a user's hip and thighs in sitting position. Whereas the baseboard of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,980 provides only a substrate to which various types of hardware can be attached, the baseboard of the present invention fits the shapes of a user's hip and thighs in sitting position and enables the user to sit correctly on the cushion. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,980, the stretchable bag is constructed such that it will form cushion of the desired dimensions when filled with pellets and adhesive, whereas the baseboard of the present invention forms the desire shapes of a user's hip and thighs in sitting position without additional pellets or adhesive. In addition, the rear part of the molded cushion of U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,980 has a side surface that will limit the sitting area for a user (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,980), whereas the rear part of the baseboard of the present invention does not have such side surface to limit the sitting area for a user. 4. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,790 discloses a customized seat cushion comprising securable, removable supports which are used in combination with a shaped tray and a pad containing a fluid foam, and the supports must be shaped to cooperate with and augment the contours of the tray while providing a smooth and comfortable seating surface. In an embodiment, one of the supports has a generally bulbous upper shape, and another support is generally wedged shaped, having a concave upper face, and vertical face and a flat bottom. In the embodiment, another support has a compound upper surface which is substantially concave and a compound bottom surface approximately contoured to matingly engage one or both of the side rims of the tray, and another support has two substantially parallel upper and lower face.

In comparison to the supports of U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,790, the gel of the present invention does not need to be shaped to have differently shaped surfaces to cooperate with and augment the contours of the tray. Because gel has flexible properties, the gel of the present invention can be simply disposed on the baseboard of the present invention and presents the shapes of the baseboard, which mimics the shapes of a user's hip and thighs in sitting position. Additionally, the gel of the present invention may have the form of a net or a solid entity, or have a plurality of cylinders on its surfaces based on the actual need, whereas U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,790 does not have such alternatives of the supports.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that these embodiments are to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive manner, and all variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught still fall within the scope of the present invention.

From the above, we can see that the improved seat cushion of the present invention meets the relevant patent requirements. It is hoped that the patent application will be approved. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seat cushion, comprising: a hard baseboard, having an upper surface, wherein a convex portion is formed on a front part near a central part of the upper surface, the convex portion has two sides, a concave part is formed on each of the two sides of the convex portion, a rear part of the upper surface has two corners, an upwardly extending portion is formed on each of the two corners of the rear part of the upper surface, and an indent part of the margin of the rear part of the hard baseboard is formed between the two upwardly extending portions, so that the hard baseboard mimics the shape of a user's hip and thighs in sitting position; a gel disposed on the upper surface of the hard baseboard; and an enclosure portion, which may enclose the hard baseboard provided with the gel.
 2. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the hard baseboard is made of wood, plastic or metal.
 3. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the gel is disposed on the entire area or certain areas of the upper surface of the hard baseboard.
 4. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the gel is disposed on the indent part of the margin of the rear part of the hard baseboard between the two upwardly extending portions.
 5. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the gel is selected form the group consisting of PU gel, silica gel, polymer gel, and synthetic rubber gel.
 6. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the gel has a form of a net.
 7. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the gel has an upper surface, and the upper surface of the gel has a plurality of cylinders.
 8. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the gel has an upper surface and an bottom surface, and the upper surface and the bottom surface of the gel have a plurality of cylinders.
 9. A seat cushion, comprising: a hard baseboard, having an upper surface, wherein a convex portion is formed on a front part near a central part of the upper surface, the convex portion has two sides, a concave part is formed on each of the two sides of the convex portion, a rear part of the upper surface has two corners, an upwardly extending portion is formed on each of the two corners of the rear part of the upper surface, and an indent part of the margin of the rear part of the hard baseboard is formed between the two upwardly extending portions, so that the hard baseboard mimics the shape of a user's hip and thighs in sitting position, and wherein a gel and a foam are disposed on the upper surface of the hard baseboard; and an enclosure portion, which may enclose the hard baseboard provided with the gel and the foam.
 10. The seat cushion as in claim 9, wherein the hard baseboard is made of wood, plastic or metal.
 11. The seat cushion as in claim 9, wherein the gel is disposed on the convex portion and the two concave parts, and the foam is disposed on the areas not covered by the gel.
 12. The seat cushion as in claim 9, wherein the gel is disposed only on the two concave parts, and the foam is disposed on the areas not covered by the gel except the convex portion.
 13. The seat cushion as in claim 9, wherein, in manufacturing, a layer of the foam is first disposed on the upper surface of the hard baseboard, and then a layer of the gel is disposed on top of the layer of the foam.
 14. The seat cushion as in claim 9, wherein, in manufacturing, a first layer of the foam is put on the upper surface of the hard baseboard, a layer of the gel is then put on top of the layer of the foam, and a second layer of the foam is put on top of the layer of the gel.
 15. The seat cushion of claim 9, wherein the gel is selected form the group consisting of PU gel, silica gel, polymer gel, and synthetic rubber gel. 